Railway signal-torpedo



Patented Nov. 29,1921.

gwtwnto'o entree stares FRANK DUT'GEER, OF VERSAILLES, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNGR TO CENTRAL RAIL- WAY SIGNAL COll-IPANY, OF PlTTSBUR-G'H, PElINtSYLVANIA, A COR-PORAT ON OE NEW JERSEY.

aeasee.

Application filed February 2, 1921. Serial no. 441,715.

To all whomz't may concern:

Be it known that I, F RANK Dn'roiann, a citizen of'the United States, residing at Versailles, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented (ertain new and useful Improvements'in Railway Signal-Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in railway signal torpedoes, provided with a rail-engaging member for fastening the torpedo to the rail-head of a track.

The explosive of the torpedo in my improved invention is wrapped in a sheet of suitable fibrous material and the rail-engaging member is fastened to'the wrapped case. Y

The object of my invention is to provide a new and cheap manner of fastening the rail-engaging member'to the torpedo.

A further object of my invention is to provide a means for fastening the'rail-engaging member sufficiently secure to the torpedo to assure that when the same is placed on a track and struck by the moving wheel of a locomotive or cargthe torpedo will not be separated from the rail-engaging mem her and dislodged from the track without exploding. I

Other and further objects of my invention will appear in the following description and drawings, in which Y Figure 1 is a perspective view of a torpedo embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through a torpedo embodying my invention.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a torpedo embodying my invention, the case being shown in its extended position before being folded.

Referring now to the drawings in which similar parts are designated by like numerals, 1 designates the torpedo explosive which is wrapped in a sheet 2, making several folds around the explosive, as shown at 3.

The wrapping 2which composes the explosive case has oppositely extending wingportions 4 and 4:, which extend beyond the explosive.

As a means of attaching the torpedo to a railway rail, or the like, I have provided a rail-engaging member or strap 5. This member is preferably made of lead or a similar Specification of Letters Patent.

RAILWAY SIG-NAL-TORPEDO.

Patented Nov. as, 1921.

pliable material but suitable li ht spring material or its equivalent could be used without; departing from the spirit of my invention.

To those skilled in the art, it is ave-llknown that the rail-engagingmember .must be firmly and securely fastened to-the torpedo so that when it is placed on a railway rail and struck by the moving wheel of a train, the torpedo will not be separated from its rail fastening and dislodged from the rail' without exploding.

I have provided for the attachment of the rail-engaging member to the torpedo in the following manner:

One of the extended wing portions of-the case-wrapping 2 is provided with openings 6, through which the rail-strap is'threaded, as shown in Fig. l. It'will be readily understoodthat the rail-engaging member can be threaded either by starting one of its ends downwardly or by starting it up *wardly through one of the openings, thus putting the portion 7 of'the extended wing above or below the strap 5,111 accordance with the way in which the rail .member is startedthrough the openings. T'have shown the strap threaded 1n the preferred. way,

with the portion 7 below the strap and the strap extending outwardly from below the edges of the wing portion.

The wing portion carrying the strap threaded therethrough is now folded inward upon the wrapper 2, and the end 8 of a case sealing wrapper is placed thereupon with its opposite end 9 extending outwardly as shown in Fig. 4..

The opposite wing portion is then folded inward and upon the first wing portion and the end of the case sealing wrapper. As

each of the members are placed in the positions described, they are cemented or otherwise suitably fastened.

When the two wing portions are folded into proper place the extending end 9 of the case sealing wrapper is carried around the case, completely embracing the case and its folded wing portions, and suitably fastened. I

. The rail-engaging member is in this way securely fastened to the torpedo and due to the manner of constructing the explosive case and fastening the rail-engaging member thereto, I have provided a completed railway signal torpedo which will greatly lessen the danger of damage or injury caused by flying particles when the charge is exploded. v

If desired the completed torpedo can be given a water-proofing bath to provide against dampness penetrating the ease to the explosive, since a damp torpedodoes not readily explode.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A railway signal torpedo comprising an explosive wrapped within a plurality of folds of a sheet to form a case therefor with extended wrapped portions, the extended wrapped portions folded inward, and a railengaging member passing through openings intermediate and transverse the ends of one of said portions.

2. A railway signal torpedo comprising an explosive and a wrapped casing therefor, having folded extended wrapped portions, and a rail-engaging member passing through openings intermediate and transverse the ends of one of said portions and protruding outwardly from beneath the same.

3. A railway signal torpedo comprising an explosive and a wrapped casing therefor having extended wrapped portions, a rail-engaging member passing transversely through one of said extended portions intermediate its ends, and the extended wrapped portions folded inward upon the case with the portion carrying the rail-engaging member undermost.

4. A railway signal torpedo comprising an explosive and a casing therefor, having extended portions, a rail-engaging member passing through openings longitudinally of one of said extended portions, the extended portions folded inward upon the casing, the portion carrying the rail-engaging member folded beneath the other folded extended portion, and a wrapper embracing both the case and the folded portions.

5.-A railway signal torpedo comprising an explosive and a casing therefor, having extended portions, a rail-engaging member passing transversely through one of the said extended portions, the extended portions folded inward upon the case, and a wrapper having one end secured between the said inwardly folded portions and its opposite end 'embracingl' both the case and its inwardly folded portions.

6. A railway signal torpedo, comprising an explosive and a wrapped casing there posite end wrapped around the case and embracingthe said folded portions thereof. In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

FRANK DU TCI-IER. Witnesses R. W. JUNKE E. R. A'USLANDER. 

